7alpha-mono-and dihalomethyl steroids



United States Patent 3,357,973 7a-MONO- AND DHHALOMETHYL STEROIDS Colin C. Beard, Boulder, Colo., and Alexander D. Cross, Mexico City, Mexico, assignors to Syntex Corporation, Panama, Panama, a corporation of Panama No Drawing. Filed Dec. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 513,548 17 Claims. (Cl. 260239.55)

This is a continuat-ion-in-part of Serial No. 486,226, filed September 9, 1965.

This invention relates to novel steroids and to their preparation. More particularly this invention pertains to compounds represented by the formula:

It -CH2 wherein R represents an oxygen atom or the group in which R represents hydrogen, tetrahydropyranyl, or a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group;

R represents hydrogen, tetrahydropyranyl, or a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group;

R represents hydrogen, cyclopropyl, (lower)alkyl, (lower)alkenyl, (lower)alkylnyl, or halo(lower)alkynyl p;

Each of R and R represents hydrogen or methyl;

X represents hydrogen, chloro, or fluoro; and

Y represents chloro or fluoro.

I By the term (lower)alkyl and derivations thereof including halo(lower)alkynyl is meant a monovalent, branched or straight-chain aliphatic radical, containing 6 or less carbon atoms. Thus, typical members of such (lower)alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, and hexyl; of such (lower)alkenyl groups are vinyl, propargyl, and the like; of such '(lower)alkynyl groups are ethynyl, propynyl, and the like; and of such halo(lower)alkyny1 groups are chloroethynyl, chloropropynyl, and the like.

By the term hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group is intended an acyl group containing less than 12 carbon atoms thereby providing such ester groups as acetate, propionate, trimethylacetate, haloacetate, aminoacetate, benzoate, adamantoate, and the like.

The novel steroids of this invention, except those in which R is alkynyl, are anabolic agents and are effective in the treatment of debilatory conditions such as are encountered in old age, post-operative recuperation, and the like. Those compounds in which R is alkynyl, particular ly ethynyl and haloethynyl, are progestational agents and are accordingly useful for the control and regulation of fertility.

3,357,973 Patented Dec. 12, 1967- The chemical transformation contemplated herein may be represented as follows:

n -orn R oH, O O 5 I I R4 R4 l S cHxY HHII (I) p (H) 15 wherein R R X and Y are as previously defined.

The compounds represented by (1) above are prepared from-the corresponding 4,6-dienes upon treatment with an alkali metal haloacetate such as sodium trifiuoroacetate, sodium trichloroacetate, sodium chlorodifluoroacetate, sodium chloroiluoroacetate, and the like as described in copending Serial No.'486,226, filed September 9, 1965.

v This invention thus involves the cleavage of a halocyclopropyl group fused to carbons 6 and 7 of the steroid nucleus (Le, a 6,7-halomethylene) with reagents which effect the ring opening of the cyclopropyl group 'to provide the corresponding-steroid containing a halomethyl group atposition 7.

In the practice of this invention, a steroid containing a 6,7-fused halocyclopropyl group is treated in liquid medium at temperatures ranging from room temperature (about C.) to 150 C. or more, preferably at atmospheric pressure, and for varying duration (usually at least minutes and more) with reagents which effect opening of the fused cyclopropyl ring, such as zincdust in acetic acid. Thereafter the product 7-halomethyl steroid is-recovered via conventional methods such as chromatography.

Reagents which effect ring opening include Zinc dust in 40 commercial form such as activated (acid-Washed) and amalgam combinations, e.g., a zinc-copper metal couple, in solvents such as the lower carboxylic acid, e.g., acetic, propionic, butyric, and the like; alcohols, e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanol, and the like; glycol-Water mixtures, e.g., ethylene glycol-water mixture and the like; ethers, e.g., dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, ethyl ether, and the like; and hydrocarbons, e.g., pentane, hexane, and the like. More complete illustration of the instant invention is provided by the discussion and examples which follow.

After the ring opening has been effected as described above, other parts of the molecule may be elaborated.- This elaboration is preferably performed at C-17 followed by subsequent substitution at C3. After the 3-keto group has been selectively protected such as by forming the corresponding enol ether by treatment with ethylorthoformate in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid, C-l7 elaboration is thereafter performed as follows:

The .17ket0 group may be treated with an organometallic such as alkyl lithium, alkenyl lithium, alkynyl lithium or alkyl magnesium halide, alkenyl magnesium halide, or alkynyl magnesium halide which provides the corresponding 17a-aliphatic-17fi-ols. The "17a-alkyl and alkenyl group such as ethyl or vinyl may be alternatively provided 65 through controlled hydrogenation of the l7a-alkynyl group such as ethynyl. The l7oc-Vinyl may inturn be converted to l7u-cyclopropyl upon treatment with an iodo methyl metal iodide such as is provided by a combination of methylene iodide and zinc-copper couple.

In lieu of the process described above, the l7-keto may oe reduced such as by treatment with sodium borohydride in methanol or lithium aluminum hydride in tetrahydrofuran to give the corresponding 17fl-hydroxy compound, unsubstituted in the 17a position.

The secondary 17l3-ols may be esterified by an acylating agent such as acetic anhydride in pyridine. Esterification of the tertiary 17B-hyclroxyl is done with an acylating agent in the presence of an acid such as p-toluenesulfonic acid and the like. Etherification of the 17B-hydroxyl with dihydropyran in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid affords the 17B-tetrahydropyranyl ether.

The protecting group at (1-3 is removed in the usual manner such as by acidic treatment to afford the corresponding 3-keto compound, fully substituted at C-17 as provided above.

This 3-keto group may also be reduced such as with sodium borohydride as described above for the 17-keto to give the 3fl-hydroxyl. This secondary hydroxyl may be esterified as described above to afford the Pitt-ester. It may alternatively be etherified with dihydropyran in the presence of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride to give the 3,8- tetrahydropyranyl ether.

The following examples serve to illustrate the invention more fully but are not intended to be limiting except insofar as provided in the appended claims.

Example 1 To a stirred, refluxing solution of 1 g. of estra-4,6- diene-3,17-dione in 15 ml. of dimethyl triethylene glycol ether is added in a dropwise fashion a 50% w./v. solution of sodium trifiuoroacetate in dimethyl triethylene glycol ether. When the further addition of reagent fails to effect a change in the U.V. spectrum, the addition is stopped. The mixture is cooled and filtered. The filtrate is evaporated to dryness and the residue is chromatographed on alumina with methylene chloride to yield 6a,7u-difiuoromethy1eneestr4-ene3,l7-dione.

In a like manner, 604,7a-difluoromethyleneandrost-4- ene-3,17-dione and 6a,7a-difluoromethylene-18-methylestr-4-ene-3,17-dione are prepared.

By substituting sodium trichloroacetate in the procedure of this example, there is obtained the corresponding 6a,7a-dichloromethylene derivatives. Likewise, the use of sodium chlorofluoroacetate results in the monofluoro derivatives, namely, 6a,7a-fiuoromethyleneestr-4-ene-3,17- dione; 6a,7a-flu0romethyleneandrost-4-ene-3,17 dione, and 6a,7a-fiuoromethylene-lS-methylestr 4 cue-3,17- dione.

Example 2 A stirred solution of 16 g. of 6a,7a-difiu'oromethyleneestr-4-ene-3,l7-dione in ml. of acetic acid is heated at reflux for 1 hour with several portions of zinc dust. The mixture is then stirred at room temperature for 1 hour, filtered, the residue being washed with acetic acid, and diluted with ml. of water. This mixture is extracted with methylene chloride and the methylene chloride extracts are in turn washed with water, 2 N sodium bicarbonate solution, and water. After drying this organic solution with magnesium sulfate, it is evaporated to dryness and chromatographed on alumina with hexane: methylene chloride followed by methylene chloridezethyl acetate to' yield 7a-difiuoromethylestr-4-ene-3,17-dione.

In a like manner, the use of zinc-copper couple in methanol and zinc dust in tetrahydrofuran in lieu of zinc dust in acetic acid affords the same result.

Example 3 The compounds listed under H below are prepared from the compounds listed under I below following the procedure of Example 2.

I II

7a-difiuoromethylandrost--ene-S,

17-di0ne.

7a-difiuorornethyl-l8methylestr- 4-ene-3,17-dione.

7uz-dichlor0rnethy1estr-4-ene-3,17-

dione. 7a-chloromethyl-18methylestr-4- ene-3,17-di0ne.

Example 4 To a suspension of 1 g. of 7a-difiuoromethylestr-4-ene- 3,17-dione in 7.5 ml. of anhydrous, peroxide-free dioxane are added 1.2 ml. of freshly distilled ethyl orthoformate and 0.8 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acid. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes and allowed to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. There is then added 0.8 ml. of pyridine, followed by water until a solid forms. The solid then formed is collected by filtration, washed with water and air dried to yield 3-ethoxy-7a-difluoromethylestra-3,5(6)-dien-17-one which is crystallized from acetonezhexane.

A solution of 1 g. of sodium borohydride in 3 ml. of water is added to an ice-cooled solution of l g. of 3-ethoxy- 7a-difluoromethylestra-3,5(6)-dien-17-one in ml. of methanol and the mixture is then allowed to stand for 16 hours at room temperature. The excess reagent is decomposed by addition of acetic acid and the solution is then concentrated to a small volume in vacuum and diluted with water. The product is extracted with ethyl acetate and these extracts are washed with water, dried and evaporated to yield 3-ethoxy-7a-difluoromethylestra- 3,5(6)-dien-17p-ol which may be further purified by recrystallization from acetonezhexane.

To a solution of 1 g. of 3-ethoxy-7a-difiuoromethylestra-3,5(6)-dien-17,B-ol in 10 ml. of acetone are added a few drops of 36% hydrochloric acid. The mixture is heated a few minutes at steam bath temperatures, diluted with water and filtered. The solid thus collected is dried and recrystallized from acetonezhexane to yield 7a-difluoromethylestr-4-en-17fi-ol-3-one.

A mixture of 1 g. of 7u-difiuoromethylestrat-en-17,8- ol-3-one, 4 ml. of pyridine and 2 ml. of acetic anhydride is allowed to stand at room temperature for 15 hours. The mixture is then poured into ice water and the solid which forms is collected by filtration, washed with water and dried to yield 7a-difiuoromethyl-17fl-acetoxyestr-4- en-3-one which may be further purified through recrystallization from acetonerhexane.

Similarly prepared by the procedures of this example are 7a-difluoromethyl-17B-acetoxyandrost-4-en-3-one and 7a-difiuoromethyl-l7B-acetoxy-18-methylestr-4-en-3 one from 7a-difiuoromethylandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione and 7adifiuoromethyl 18 methylestr 4 ene 3,17 dione,

respectively.

Example 5 Two milliliters of dihydropyran are added to a solution of l g. of 7a-difluoromethylestr-4-en-17/3-ol-3-one in 15 ml. of benzene. About 1 ml. is removed by distillation to remove moisture and 0.4 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acid is added to the cooled solution. This mixture is allowed to stand at room temperature for 4 days, and is then washed with aqueous sodium carbonate solution and water, dried and evaporated. The residue is chromatographed on neutral alumina, eluting with hexane, to yield 7a-difluoromethyl-17fi-tetrahydropyranyloxyestr-4 en -3- one.

Similarly, 7a-difluoromethyl-17/3-tetrahydropyranyloxyandrost-4-en-3-one and 7a-difluoromethyl-17,8-tetrahydropyranyloxy-18-methylestr-4-en-3-one are prepared.

Example 6 A mixture of 2 g. of 7a-difluoromethylestr-4cn-17B- ol-3-0ne in 8 ml. of pyridine and 4 ml. of adamantoyl 3 chloride is heated at steam bath temperature for one hour. The mixture is then poured into ice water and the solid which forms is collected by filtration, washed with water, and dried to yield 7a-difiuoromethyl-17fiadamantyloxyestr-4-en-3-one Which is further purified through recrystallization from methylene chloridezhexane.

Similarly, 7a difiuoromethyl 17B-adamantoyloxyandrost 4 en- 3 one and 7a difiuoromethyl 17;?- adamantoyloxy 18 methylestr 4 en 3 one are prepared.

Example 7 A solution of 5 g. of 3-ethoxy-7u-difluoromethylestra- 3,5 (6)-dien-17-one in 250 ml. of thiophen-free benzene is treated with an equimolar amount of methylmagnesium bromide in anhydrous conditions for 3 hours, cooled, and cautiously treated with excess aqueous ammonium chloride solution. This mixture is then extracted with ethyl acetate and these extracts are in turn washed with Water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to yield 3ethoxy-h-difiuoromethyl-17a-methylestra-3,5 (6 dien-17fl-ol which is recrystallized from methylene chloride:hexane.

This compound is hydrolyzed with acid following the procedure set forth in the third paragraph of Example 4 to yield 7a-difluoromethyl-17a-methy1estr-4-en-17/3-01-3- one.

Similar to the procedure of this example are prepared 70: difiuoromethyl 17a methylandrost 4 en 17 3- ol-3-one and 7adifluoromethyl-17a,l8-dimethylestr-4-en- 1713-ol-3-one.

Example 8 To a stirred solution of 2 g. of 3-ethoxy-7a-difiuoromethylestra-3,5(6)-dien-17-one in 250 ml. of absolute ether is added in a dropwise fashion and under nitrogen, an ethereal solution of 10 molar equivalents of ethyl lithium. The mixture is then stirred for 48 hours at room temperature, poured into water, acidified with hydro chloric acid and stirred vigorously for 1 hour. The ethereal phase is separated, washed With Water to neutrality, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to yield 3 ethoxy 7a difiuoromethyl 17oz ethylestra 3,5 (6)- dien-17fi-ol which is further purified through recrystallization from ac'etonezhexane.

Upon hydrolysis with acid according to the procedure of Example 4 is yielded 7a-ditluoromethyl-17a-ethylestr- 4-en-17/8-ol-3-one.

By a similar procedure, 7a-difiuorornethyl-17a-ethylandrost 4 en 17p ol 3 one and 7a difiuoromethyl 17a ethyl 18 methylestr 4 en 17/8 ol- 3-one are prepared.

Example 9 A solution of 8.5 g. of 1,2-dichloroethylene in 50 ml. of anhydrous ether is added in a dropwise fashion, under nitrogen and at 0 C. over a 30 minute period to a stirred solution of ml. of 1.4 N methyl lithium in anhydrous ether. After stirring for an additional 90 minutes, at room temperature, a solution of 0.5 g. of 3- ethoxy-7a-difiuoromethylestra-3,5 6)-dien-l7-one in 20 ml. of anhydrous ether is added in a dropwise fashion with stirring over a 15 minute period. Stirring at room temperature is continued for 18 hours, and the reaction mixture is then poured into ice water and extracted with ether. These extracts are washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue is chromatographed on alkaline alumina with 8 :2 hexanezether to yield 3-ethoxy-7tit-difiuoromethyl-17achloroethynylestra-3,5(6)-ciien-17{3-ol which is further purified through recrystallization from acetonezhexane.

Hydrolysis with acid by the method recited in Example 4 atfords Lit-difiuoromethyl-17a-chloroethynylestr-4- en-l7fl-ol-3-one.

By this procedure, Zia-difiuoromethyl-17a-chloroethynylandrost 4 en 17,8 ol 3 one and 7a di 6 fiuoromethyl 17a chloroethynyl 18-methylestr-4-en- 17fl-ol-3-one are prepared.

Example 10 A solution of 1 g. of 3-ethoxy-7ot-difiuoromethylestra- 3,5(6)-dien-l7-one in 30 ml. of anhydrous benzene is added under nitrogen to a solution of 1.4 g. of potassium in 30 ml. of t-amyl alcohol. A slow current of purified acetylene is then passed through the solution for 40 hours. The mixture is diluted with water and extracted with benzene. These extracts are washed with water to neutrality, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. Chromatography of the residue on alkaline alumina with 2:3 hexanezbenzene yields 3-ethoxy 7 a difiuoromethyl-17aethynylestra-3,5(6)-dien-17,8-ol which is recrystallized from acetonezhexane.

Hydrolysis with acid by the procedure of Example 4 yields 70: difiuoromethyl-17a-ethynylestr-4-en-17 8-01-3 one.

Similarly, 70c difiuoromethyl 17a ethynylandrost 4-en-17l8-ol-3-one and Wat-difiuoromethyl-17a-ethynyl-18 methylestr-4-en-17,8-ol-3-one are prepared.

Example 11 A mixture of 1 g. of 7oc-difiuoromethyl-17a-ethynylestr- 4-en-17,B-ol-3-one, 1 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acidmonohydrate, 50 ml. of acetic acid, and 25 ml. of acetic anhydride is allowed to stand at room temperature for 24 hours, and then poured into water and stirred. This mixture is then extracted with methylene chloride and these extracts are dried and evaporated to yield 7oc-dlfill0f0- methyl 17a ethynyl 17 3 acetoxyestr 4 en 3 one which is recrystallized from acetonezether.

Likewise, the other 17a-aliphatic-l7/3-ols of this invention are converted to the corresponding 17,3- acetates.

By aisimilar procedure as that presented above, the use of propionic anhydride in lieu of acetic anhydride provides the corresponding l7l8-propionyloxy compounds.

Example 12 A solution of 1 g. of 3-ethoxy-7a-difiuoromethyl-17w ethynylestra-3,5(6)-dien:17fl-ol in. 40 ml. of pyridine is hydrogenated at 25 C. atmospheric pressure in the presence of 0.4 g. of prehydrogenated 2% palladium-on-calcium carbonate. When 1.1 molar equivalents of hydrogen are absorbed, the reaction is stopped. The catalyst is removed by filtration through Celite diatomaceous earth and washed with ethyl acetate and the combined filtrate and washings are evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue is dissolved in ethyl acetate and this solution then washed with dilute hydrochloric acid and water to neutrality, dried and evaporated to dryness to yield 3 -ethoxy-7a-difluoromethyl-17a-vinylestra-3,5, (6 dien-17/3-ol which is further purified through recrystallization from acetone.

Hydrolysis with acid according to the procedure of Example 4 gives 7a-difluoromethyl-17a-vinylestr-4-en- 17/3-ol-3-one.

Thereafter, the 173-01 is esterified according to the pro: cedure of Example 11 to yield 7a-difluoromethyl-17avinyl-l7/3-acetoxyestr-4-en-3-one.

The 176-01 is etherified by the procedure of Example 5 to give the corresponding 17fl-tetrahydropyranyloxy compound.

Example 13 A solution of 3 g. of 3-ethoxy-7a-difiuoromethyl-17aethynylestra-3,5(6) dien-17,8-ol in ml. of dioxane is hydrogenated at 25 C./570 mm. with 0.5 g. of pre-hydrogenated 10% palladium-on-charcoal. Upon the consump- Hydrolysis with acid according to the procedure of Example 4 gives 7u-difluoromethyl-17a-ethylestr-4-en-17flol-3-one.

Thereafter, the 17,8-ol is esterified according to the procedure of Example 11 to yield 7a-difiuoromethyl-l7aethyl-17fl-acetoxyestr-4-en-3-one.

The 175-01 is etherified by the procedure of Example to give the corresponding 17o tetrahydropyranyloxy compound.

Example 14 A mixture of 7 g. of methylene iodide and 3 g. of zinccopper couple in 15 ml. of anhydrous ether is heated at reflux under nitrogen for 3 hours. The mixture is then cooled and 2 g. of 7u-difluorornethyl-17a-viny1estr-4-en- 17,3-ol-3-one are added. This mixture is allowed to stand at room temperature for 2 hours and is then poured into 200 ml. of 2% aqueous sodium carbonate and extracted twice with 100 m1. portions of ether. These extracts are dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue is held at 0.01 mm. to remove any unreacted methylene iodide and then recrystallized from hexane to yield 7a-difluoromethyl-17a-cyclopropylestr-4- en-17fl-ol-3one.

Example 15 A solution of 1 g. of sodium borohydride in 3 ml. of water is added to an ice-cooled solution of 1 g. of 7a-difiuoromethyl-17a-ethylestr-4-en-17,Hol-3-one in 120 ml. of methanol and the mixture then allowed to stand for 16 hours at room temperature. The excess reagent is decomposed by addition of acetic acid and the solution is then concentrated to small volume in vacuo and diluted with water. The product is extracted with ethyl acetate and these extracts are washed with water, dried and evaporated to yield 7a-difiuoromethyl-17a-ethylestr-4-en-3fl,17(3-dio1 which may be further purified by recrystallization from acetonezhexane.

Similarly, the other 3-keto-17 substituted steroids of this invention are reduced to the corresponding 3-hydroxy-17 substituted steroids.

Example 16 7a-difiuoromethyl-17/3-acetoxyestr-4-en-3-one is reduced according to the procedure of Example 15 yielding 7a-difiuoromethyl-l7fl-acetoxyestr-4-en-3-ol.

Two milliliters of dihydropyran are added to a solution of 1 g. of 7a-difluoromethyl-17fl-acetoxyestr-4-en-3-ol in 15 ml. of benzene. About 1 ml. is removed by distillation to remove moisture and 0.4 g. of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride is added to the cooled solution. This mixture is allowed to stand at room temperature for four days, and is then Washed with aqueous sodium carbonate solution and water, dried and evaporated. The residue is chromatographed on neutral alumina, eluting with hexane, to yield 3e-tetrahydropyranyloxy 7oz difiuoromethyl 17p acetoxyestr-4-ene which is recrystallized from pentane.

A solution of 1 g. of 3B-tetrahydropyranyloxy-7a-difluoromethyl-17B-acetoxyestr-4-ene in 50 ml. of methanol is heated at reflux for 3 hours with a solution of potassium hydroxide in 1 ml. of water. The reaction mixture is then poured into ice water and the solid which forms collected by filtration, washed with water to neutrality and dried to yield 3,8-tetrahydropyranyloxy-h-difiuoromethylestr-4-ene-17fl-ol which is recrystallized from methylene chloride:ether.

By a similar procedure as outlined in this example tetrahydropyranyloxy 7oz difiuoromethyl-l7u ethynyl- 18-methylestr-4-ene-l76-01 is prepared. The other 3 fi-tetrahydropyranyloxy-l7 substituted steroids are likewise prepared by the procedure of this example.

The 35,17fl-bis-tetrahydropyranyl ethers of the corresponding 35,17j3-dl0l5 are prepared by using double the molar quantity of dihydropyran.

Example 17 7a-difiuoromethyl 17a ethynylestr-4-en-17fi-ol-3-one is reduced with sodium borohydride according to the procedure of Example 15 thus giving 7a-difiuoromethyl-17aethynylestr-4-ene-3B,17/3-diol.

A mixture of 1 g. of 7oi-difluoromethyl-17a-ethynylestr-4-ene-3fi,17,B-diol, 4 ml. of pyridine and 2 ml. of acetic hydride is allowed to stand at room temperature for 15 hours. The mixture is then poured int-o ice water and the solid which forms is collected by filtration, washed with water and dried to yield 3B-acetoxy-7u-difluoromethyl-17wethynylestr-4-en-1713-01 which may be further purified through recrystallization from acetonezhexane.

Similarly, the other 3,6-hydroxy-17 substituted steroids of this invention are converted to the corresponding steroids having the Bfi-acetoxy group.

The procedures of the foregoing examples may be used with the corresponding steroids containing the 7a-fluor0- methyl group or the 7a-dichloromethyl group in lieu of the 7a-difluoromethyl group illustrated therein.

What is claimed is:

1. Steroids of the formula wherein R represents an oxygen atom or the group in which R represents hydrogen, tetrahydropyranyl, or a hydrocarbon carboxyiic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms;

R represents hydrogen, tetrahydropyranyl, or a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms;

R represents hydrogen, cyclopropyl, (lower) alkyl, (lower)alkenyl, (lower)alkynyl, or halo(lower) alkynyl group;

each of R R R R X and Y is as therein defined and X represents hydrogen, chloro, or fluoro; and

Y represents =chloro or fiuoro.

2. Steroids of claim 1 wherein each of R, R R R and R is as therein defined and each of X and Y is fluoro.

3. teroids of claim 2 wherein each of R R R R X and Y is as therein defined and R is an oxygen atom.

4. A steroid of claim 1 wherein R is an oxygen atom;

R is hydrogen;

R is methyl;

R is hydrogen;

R is hydrogen;

X is fluoro; and

5. A steroid of claim 1 wherein R is an oxygen atom;

R is hydrogen;

R is methyl;

R is hydrogen;

R is methyl;

X is fluoro; and

6. A steroid of claim 1 wherein R is an oxygen atom;

R is hydrogen;

ilIlI i in which R is acetyl; R is acetyl; R is ethynyl; R is hydrogen; R is hydrogen; X is fluoro; and Y is fluoro. 9. A steroid of claim 1 wherein R is the group Rio;

in which R is acetyl; R is acetyl; R is ethynyl; R is hydrogen; R is methyl; X is fluoro; and Y is fluoro. 10. A steroid of claim 1 wherein R is an oxygen atom; R is adamantoyl; R is hydrogen; R is methyl; R is hydrogen; X is fluoro; and Y is fluoro. 11. A steroid of claim 1 wherein R is an oxygen atom; R is tetrahydropyranyl; R is hydrogen; R is methyl;

10 R is hydrogen; X is fluoro; and Y is fiuoro. 12. A steroid of claim 1 wherein R is the group in which R is tetrahydropyranyl;

R is hydrogen;

R is ethynyl;

R is methyl;

R is hydrogen;

X is fluoro; and

13. A steroid of claim 1 wherein R is an oxygen atom;

R is acetyl;

R is ethynyl;

R is hydrogen;

R is hydrogen;

X is fluoro; and

14. A steroid of claim 1 wherein R is an oxygen atom;

R is acetyl;

R is ethynyl;

R is hydrogen;

R is methyl;

X is fluoro; and

15. A process which comprises treating a la-keto-A steroid having a 6,7-fused halomethylene group with a ring opening reagent selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc amalgam combinations in an inert solvent to cleave said fused halomethylene group and give the corresponding 3-keto-A -7-halomethyl steroid.

16. The process according to claim 15 wherein said ring opening reagent is zinc dust and said inert solvent is acetic acid.

17. The process according to claim 16 wherein said treatment is conducted at from 25 C. to C.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,047,566 7/ 1962 Godtfredsen et a1. 260239.55

LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner. H. FRENCH, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,357,973 December 12, 1967 Colin C. Beard et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 8, line 46, after "group;" insert each of R and R represents hydrogen or methyl 1 n Signed and sealed this 15th day of April 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. STEROIDS OF THE FORMULA 